Chicago World Music Festival: Around the World in 13 Days


If music is one of the best ways to get a taste of another culture, Chicago is in for a feast starting Friday.

It’s the Chicago World Music Festival, with 40 acts representing 20 countries, from Mexico to Mali and from Ireland to India to Iran. Two weeks of free concerts in 23 different venues, from neighborhood clubs to Millennium Park.   

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Carlos Tortolero, program director for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, joins us with a preview.

Some of the bands featured during our segment:

Mariachi Flor De Toloache performs 8 p.m. Sept. 16 at Thalia Hall.

Trio Da Kali performs at 6 pm. Sept. 20 at the Chicago Cultural Center; and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at The Hideout.

Sahba Motallebi and Naghmeh Farahmand perform at 6 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Tcheka Madelena  performs at 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at The Promontory.

Roopa Panesar performs at 6:10 a.m. Sept. 9 at the Chicago Cultural Center. 

Hong Sung Hyun’s Chobeolbi performs at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Chicago Cultural Center; noon Sept. 21 at Daley Plaza; and 6 p.m. Sept. 21 at People’s Music School.


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